Pure Blood

It was July and somewhere in England Harry Potter was celebrating his birthday. Jade was here to visit friends of her family and got a better job which finally brought her closer to magic again. Working among muggles had been a torture for her. Her family was of pure blood and friends of the Malfoy and Greengrass.

"Jade, have you seen my wand?" Daphne took a look around before Jade closed the door in front of her. Daphne Greengrass had no respect for privacy especially not since she had to give her room to the American girl. Jade was 23 now and the law of noble blood said she had to marry before her 27th birthday. That's why her parents sent her to England and let her godparents choose a suitable match for her.

Jade wasn't pleased to be getting married and already missed her home in America. The witch never went to Hogwarts neither had often seen any British friends of her family apart from celebrations in summer which were not much. It changed when she left Salem Institute and joined the annual Halloween parties families of noble blood spent together.

It was Jade's favourite time of year and only two weeks after her birthday. This Halloween she would spent with Daphne's parents, the Malfoy's and other British families. Jade was not really looking forward to it but was interrupted in her thoughts when Daphne's little sister opened the door. "Astoria?"

"I'm sorry, Jade. I don't want to bother you but this package arrived for you" Astoria held the package close to her chest before she hand it to Jade. Her eyes shine brighter and she knew what her parents had sent her. "Finally, my gobstones"

"What is this, Jade?" Astoria looked interested and watched Jade unwrapping her package. Astoria had seen gobstones before but those were usually black or white. "I didn't know there are golden gobstones and that you... you play?"

"No, I don't play with my gobstones. In Salem we learnt about their magic. Hogwarts isn't teaching you anything, is it?" Jade put her golden stones in front of her window and nodded happily.

"Jade, would you teach me about their magic?" Astoria was a nice girl but Jade could see she was fascinated by anything Jade mentioned as related to Salem. "Yes, but not today. It was a long journey with all the muggle traffic. Why do your parents have a car? They don't want to mix our blood with anyone unworthy, do they?"

"No" Astoria shook her head. "There are rumours the Dark Lord is back and everybody is scared. This is probably the worst time your parents could have sent you here for marriage. You never know if your future husband will be supporter of him or Harry Potter. That's why most try to make no decision and wait until later"

"This is the worst thing anyone can do. We all have to choose a side even I know how to choose and a few weeks ago I didn't even know I had to make a choice" Jade didn't tell Astoria who she supported and the younger girl didn't ask. In a few months Astoria had to go back to Hogwarts like her older sister Daphne who would return for her final year. Jade would be alone with their parents but hoped to be working most of the times.

The Daily Prophet laid on her bed which she had not finished reading yet. A few months after school Jade had started an apprenticeship for the newspaper and after one year worked for it as reporter in America. Moving to England and being friend of well known pure blood families she had got a better job and finally she was free of hiding herself among muggles. Jade finally had an office and was writing articles other reporters researched for her.

Jade would only interview wizards and left the scum behind her.

"How many years of Hogwarts do you still have to go through?" Jade looked over her shoulder to Astoria who looked pretty in black. "Three more years. My parents said my marriage is already arranged and I won't wait long after school"

"Don't you want a job and your freedom?" Jade was shocked by Astoria's answer and hoped the girl used her last three years to change her opinion.

Harry, Hermione and Ron planned their escape every day. Today on Harry's birthday she didn't stop working on their plan but had to be very secretive about it. Hermine's bag was stuffed with books and everything she thought useful.

Ron read the Daily Prophet in case they spoke of any more dead but most times they were informed through bewitched radios and not the Prophet's lies about Harry and the Dark Lord. Since Dumbledore's death Harry was almost an outcast and so he often sat quiet by the window and thought about what to do.

"What if you die when you follow me?" Harry was worried for his friends but both Hermione and Ron knew what they were risking. Neither of them answered Harry and instead they went downstairs to Harry's party.

It was only a small group and a cake. Harry had to say some words on his 17th birthday and raised his glass to heroes. "I'm just a boy... and I'm scared what will come. He is back and he killed so many of us. Frank and Alice Longbottom, my parents, Sirius and his brother, Dumbledore and Mad-Eye... and Cedric and Hedwig... Don't let us forget them. We won't let them die for nothing"

Harry's words upset everybody and Hermione and Ron were worried for their best friend. What if Harry was not ready to do whatever was necessary?

Jade and Astoria went downstairs for dinner. On the way Jade stopped the younger girl and pointed to the hall. Misses Greengrass was talking to a shady man who gave her something. Jade noticed a letter which Astoria's mother quickly put away.

Jade was already interested to read this special letter and smiled when the man left. He didn't look like any pure blood she knew from America. His clothes were old and dirty. His hair wasn't brushed and his stubble made him look ugly.

"Who was this?" Jade asked Astoria who didn't know the man and followed Jade to the dining room. "You don't think that's your future husband, do you? You can't marry him. He is old and looked... disgusting"

"Don't worry, Astoria. I won't marry anyone I don't approve... if I ever marry" Jade whispered to Astoria while Daphne watched the two of them. "We don't whisper"

"And we are not clumsy and forget where we put our wand" Jade grinned and liked to tease Daphne who looked angry.

This night Hermione and Ron didn't sleep. They knew they weren't the only ones who worried about Harry. He was the Chosen One and everybody who was scared of Lord Voldemort believed in Harry. No one wanted to see him cry or be scared himself.

"We have go. Now" Hermione grabbed her bag and pulled Ron to grab anything else they had prepared. Harry's and Ron's backpack and of course Harry himself. Next they had to escape Ron's mother and sneaked outside the house. They ran towards the barrier and made a noise passing it. The house was awake and Mrs Weasley screamed they were attacked but instead the three friends stood close to each other and when Ron let his Deluminator click they all disappeared.

A letter arrived at Greengrass and called Jade to London. It was an urgent note saying Harry Potter had disappeared. Jade grinned and ran upstairs to grab her broom.

Finally it was her time to write the article of her life – to hell with marriage law.